Caster.



G. S. ALLEN.

CASTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22.'I9I5.

Patented Nov. i6, 1915.

sfrA'rEs PATENT arri.

GILBERT s. ALLEN, oF. VERETT, MASSACHSETTS.

CASTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Appiication filed Marenga, 1915. seriai No. 15,996.

'lon/l l/mm it may concern.'

lie it known that I, (ininnrr S. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Everett. in the county of middlesex and State of A\hissachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Casters. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to casters for supporting relatively heavy loads, such as pianofortes.

The invention has for its object to p rovide an iuiprovial construction permitting the yoke or fi'anie on which the caster wheels are mounted, to turn freely on a vertical axis, and permitting the wheel to be made in independently rotatable sections, each adapted to turn freely on a horizontal axis, anti-friction bearings being provided and the .:cnstruction being such that the parts,`

including the anti-friction rollers of said bearings may be conveniently assembled. l The invention also rhas for its object to enable the wheel bearings to be conveniently lubricated and` protected against the admission of dirt.

The invention consists in the improvements which I will 'now yproceed to describe and claim.

Ot' the accompanying drawings forming a, part of' this specification: Figure Irepresents a .side elevation of a caster embodying my invention: Fig. 2 represents a section on line fi-2 of 'Fim 1` showing the wheel made in two independent seetioi'is'; Fig. S'repre sents a view similar to a portion of Fig. 2, showing the. wheel sections and their 'bearings assembled prior to engagement with the load-engaging volte or frame; Fig. 4 represents a `fiew similar to a portion of Fig. 2, showing said yoke or frame; and Fig. 5 represents a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the wheel made as a single piece or part.

The same reference charaet'ers'iindicate the same or similar parts in alltlie views.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2,'"3 andv l, 12 represents a yoke composed of a neck por 'tion 12 and spaced-apart arms'12". The

neck 122l is provided with suitable load-engaging means whereby it may be connected with a. load member, such as the leg of a.

pianoforte, said means as-herefshown including a vertical' spindle 13.` rigidly` at tei/hed to the neck and pioiecting upwardly.

The neck is preferably -re1n therefrom. forced by a vplate having an upwardly facing face 12c surrounding the base of the spindle and an upwardly projecting marginal fiange or dam 12'1 surrounding 'said face and adapted to confine grease in the horizontal roller race of which the face 12 forms a part.

1l represents a bushing adapted to be,1nserted in a socket in a plano leg and yprolvided at its lower end with a horizontal flange 14, tlie'nnder side of which forms a horizontal downwardly facing face opposed to the face 12"'. Between said faces or race members I interpose a circular series of antifriction rollers 15, preferably balls, which are confined by an annular Hange 14 on the flange 14a. The upper end portion ot' the spindle 13 is preferably provided with a circumferential groove 13 between which and the inner surface of the' bushing 14 is confined a horizontal series of anti-friction b'alls 1G. Grease may be inserted in the roller racethus formed, and confined by the dam 12d.

' lThe yoke is adapted by the described means toturn on a vertical axis with the minimum of friction. It will be understood, however, that I do not limit myself to the described means for connecting the yoke with the load, and may employ tion next described inconnectnfn with any other suitable load-engaging means.

17 and 17 represent headed vscrews in-A sei-ted -inorifices 18 (Fig. i) formed in the lower end portions of the yoke-arms 12", said screws being insertible endwise in said orifices and ftliei'ti.` heads being adapted `to bear on theoutr sides of the yoke-arms. The said screwsare engaged with threaded sockets formed for` their reception in a cylindrical a.\'le 19 inserted between the yokearms.

The axle 19 -constitiitesa fixed bearing which is surrounded bv an annular caster wheel, which is preferably composed of two independently rotatable sections 20. each of which constitutes in effect a separate wheel. 4lach section 20 has an outer annular shoulder 2l and an inner annular shoulder 22, Said shoulders being concentric with the peripheryof' the axle 19 and spaced therefrom` so that zones of said periphery are opposed 'Patented Nov. 1 6, 1915 l inner shoulders 22 and the axle I interpose A l l ot itsends, and has a grease outlet @Si coman inner series o't' similar anti-friction. rollers-23u. Each wheel section 20 is provided with a spacing or separating member 2l projecting between the balls 23 and 23j,

The outer balls are contined by outer con fining plates 25, preferably ot' 'hardened steel, adjacent to the outer sides of the wheel sections 20, said plates being preferably provided with flanges 2G projecting into'annular grooves 27 formed yin the outer sides of the wheel sections, the said plates and flanges beingYA free from contact with the wheel sections and with the sides otsaid grooves, and the plates being clamped by the screw heads against rot-ation between the y 2S represents an vintermmliate confiningl plate interposed between thev wheel sections Q0 and confining the inner balls 23 in their races. The said interinediate confining plate..

is provided withtwo oppositely projecting vtlanges 29 projecting into' annular grooves 8 0 formed in the inner sidesl'ot the wheel sections 20. The flanges 29 are also in close proximity to the outer sides ot the grooves 30, but not in contact. therewith, the object of the fianges ot both the outer and the inner confining` plates being to prevent the admission. of dirt and grit to the ball races formed by the wheel shoulders, the axle and the conining plates. l i

The axle 19 is preferably hollow, its interior .forming a grease chamber 31, 'which communicates through grease outlets 31n with the several ball races, as shown by Fig.

2. Said chamber is closed at one end by the,

gagement' with the yoke, the unit or assemblage ot" vparts shown by Fig. 4 being inserted as one part between the yolve-arins and secured thereon by subsequently inserting the screws 17 a'nd 17a.

`The construction whereby thedparts are enabled toy be assembled as indicated permits tlieconvenicnt location of the anti-friction rollers in theii` proper relative positions,'and

prevents anvliability ot loss or displacement of: the rollers during the assembling operation. i

" rlhe- 'astermay be provided with a wheel Q0 formed as a single piece or part, asy

shown by Fig. 5, the intermediate confining plate 2S being omitted. Fig. also shows as the means foncengaging the axle with the yoke-arms a tubular stud or rivet 35, the ends ot' which are expanded against'. the yoke-arms to .form clamping shoulders 36.

e, confining plates, issembled as a unit inl Said stud may receive `grease through one munieating with a grease chamber in the axle, here designated 19,y The'ends of the engaged vwith 'a groove in the upper end portion ot the spindle and having a frie- Ational bearing on the interior of the bushmir. The bushing may in turn be Jfrictionally engaged with ,a socket in a `piano leg bv a similar rintr-enfraied with a lroove 110 .f h h' 2'? t in the. upper end portion-ot' the bushing.

.llaving described my invention, I claim:

1.11 caster comprisingr a load-engaging two-armed yoke, an axle interposed between the yokx arms, anannular wheel surrounding the axle. and ha vingl inwardly `facing annular bearing shoulders concentric with the periphery otl the axle,v and an inwardly projecting separating uiember between said shoulders. confining plates interposedy between-the yoke arms and the ends 'ot the axle, and extending across said ball races, saidshoulders, separating.members, confining' plates and axle tormin-g annular races, anti-friction rollers confined in said races, an-dsecuring means engaging the axle with theyoke arms and clamping the confining plates between said arms and the ends of the axle.

two-armed yoke, an yaxle interposed between the-yoke arms, an annular vwheel surrounding the axle and having inwardly tacing annular bearing shoulders concentric with the" periphery otl theaxle, andan inwardly projecting-separating nieiiiber between saidv shoulders, confining plates interposed hetween ythe yoke arms and the ends of the axle', and extending across said ball races, said shoulders, separating members, contining plates and axle torming annular races, anti-friction rollers contined'in said races,

f and securing means engaging the axle with the yoke arms and clamping the confining plates between said arms and the ends of th 1 axle. the wheel being provided with annular grooves in its sides, and the confining `plates being provided with annular dirt-excluding flanges projecting into said grooves.

3. A caster comprising a load-engaging ytwo-armedv yoke, an axle interposed between the yokearms, an annular wheel surrounding the axle and having inwardly facing annular bearing shoulders concentric with the periphery 'of the axle, and an inwardly projecting separating member between said shoulders, conning plates interposed between the yoke arms and the ends ot the axle, and extending across said ball races, said shoulders, separating members,

A castel' comprising a load-engaging.

' races.

confining plates andfaxle forming annular races, anti-frictionrollersconlined in said races, and'securing means'fengaging the axle with the yoke agms and'clamping the confining plates between said arms andthe ends ofthe axle, the axle and securing means being formed to conduct grease tothe said 4. A caster comprising a load-engaging two-armed yoke, 'an axle .interposed between the yoke arms, an annular wheel surrounding the axle and having inwardly facing annular bearing shoulders concentric with the periphery of the axle, and an 'inwardly projecting separating member between said shoulders, confining plates interposed between the yoke arms and the ends of the4 axle, and extending across said ball races, said shoulders, separating members, confining plates, and axle, forming annular races', anti-friction rollersconfned vinsaid lraces and headed screws engaging theyoke arms with theaxle and clamping .the conning plates between said arms and the axle.

5. A caster comprising a-load-engaging two-armed yoke, an axle. interposed between the yoke arms, an annular wheel'surrounding. the axle and having inwardly facing annular' bearing shoulders concentric with the'periphery of the axle, andan inwardly projecting separating member between said shoulders, confining kplates interposed between the yoke arms and the ends of the axle, and extending across said ball races, said shoulders, separating members, confining plates and axle forming annular races', antlfriction rollers confined in said races, and

. 'securing meanslengaging the .axle with the yoke arms 4and clamping the conningplates I betweenl said arms and the ends of the axle,`

said axle ibelng provided with a grease chamber a d with a grease outlet communieating withsaid races, and the securing means being adapted to conduct grease to said chamber. T

6. A caster comprising a. load-engaging two-armed yoke, an axle interposed between the-yoke arms, an annular Wheel surrounding the axle and having inwardly facing annular bearing shoulders concentric/with the periph/ery of the axle, and an inwardly pro'- jecting separating member. between said shoulders, confining plates interposed be tween the yoke arms and the ends of the Iaxle, and extending across said ball races,

said shoulders, separating members, conining plates and axle forming annularraces,

anti-friction rollers confined in said races, and headed screws engaging the yoke arms -a grease inlet and a closure therefor.

' axle bet with. the axle and clamping the confining' plates between said arms and the axle, said axle containing a grease chamber having a grease outlet communicating with said races, and one of said screws being provided with 7. A caster comprising a load-engaging two-armed yoke, an `axle interposed between ently rotatable sections, each having an outer and an inner inwardly facing shoulder race concentric with the peripheryof the axle,.and an inwardly'projecting. separating member between said shoulders, rollers interposed between said races and the periphery of 'the axle, there being two series of rollers for each wheel section, end confining plates interposed between the yoke arms and the lends of the vaxle and extending across the outer races, securing means engaging the axle with the yokev arms and clamping said end plates between the arms and the ends of the axle, and an intermediate confining plate supported by the axle between the wheel sections and extending across the inner races.

8. A caste'r comprising al load-engaging vthe yoke arms, an annular wheel surroundf ing the axle and composed of two independtwo-armed yoke,l an axle interposed between arms and the ends ofthe axle and extending across the .outer raees, securi'ng means enaglng the axlewith the yoke arms nd c amping said end plates between the ar s and the ends of the axle, and an intermediate lonining plate supported by the en the wheel sections and extendingacrossthe inner races, each wheel section being provided withv annular grooves 'mi its outer and inner'sides and the said end and intermediate confin'ng plates being `provided with dirt-'excluding flanges projecting into said grooves.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

GILBERT S. ALLEN. Witnesses z C. F. BRowN, P. W. Pnzzn'r'rr. 

